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EVENT'S HIGHLIGHT'S

EVENT'S HIGHLIGHT'S

FLOCK FEST 2006: Zephyrhills

Flock Fest 2026: A Wingsuit Winter in the Cradle of Skydiving

At a certain age, a simple skydive ceases to be enough. Well, unless you’re jumping tandems - then "falling" is the goal in itself. However, for the sport jumper, time leads us to seek something more: precision, speed, and community. When winter takes over Europe, eyes naturally turn to the other side of the Atlantic, where the season is in full swing.

The goal this year was Skydive City in Zephyrhills, Florida - the legendary "Z-Hills." This place is an icon, operating since the 1960s. Within the community, they joke that if you haven't jumped at Z-Hills, you aren't a real skydiver. It’s a true "skydiving city" with hundreds of campers, hangars, a professional manifest, and the legendary Hard Dock bar. Most importantly, sport jumpers set the tone here; tandems are merely a pleasant addition.

A New Energy: Flock Fest

I had followed the "Flock and Dock" event for years, but this year the calendar and Cassie Young (organiser) brought a surprise. At the same time and place, a new event emerged: Flock Fest. After a quick chat with the locals, any doubts vanished: "Come down, it’s going to be fire, plenty of pilots and an amazing staff." They weren't wrong.

From February 26 to March 1, 2026, 130 wingsuiters descended upon Zephyrhills. We had a massive fleet at our disposal: two Twin Otters (DHC-6), two Supervans, and a Cessna Caravan. The engines never had a chance to cool down; the only breaks in flying occurred when the Florida clouds wrapped a bit too tightly around the dropzone.

Wingsuiting, XRW, and the Global Elite

Flock Fest focused on a "boogie style" atmosphere: every type of wingsuiter could find their niche. This ranged from beginners to advanced pilots building large formations, dynamic flights where pilots constantly change directions, and spectacular XRW (Extreme-cross Relative Work), where wingsuit pilots fly shoulder-to-shoulder with swoopers on small, high-speed parachutes.

The athletic caliber was guaranteed by a lineup of world-class Load Organizers, including:

Aside from one instructor from a wind tunnel in Stockholm, I was the only raw European in this group 🙂

Safety and Discipline

Despite the high intensity (jumping from dawn till dusk) and the advanced skill level of the participants, the event was conducted safely. Only one reserve deployment was recorded. The organizers placed an enormous emphasis on discipline - one individual was permanently banned from the event for irresponsible behavior in the air, a testament to the staff's professionalism.

Legendary BBQ and the Hard Dock Culture

The athletic intensity was matched only by the legendary Florida BBQ. The smell of slow-roasted ribs and burgers signaled the start of the evening's festivities. Sharing a meal at long tables under the stars provided a unique opportunity for amateur pilots to rub shoulders with B.A.S.E. legends. As tradition dictates, the social life eventually migrated to the Hard Dock bar for video debriefs and late-night storytelling.

A Polish Accent in the Grand Finale

For me personally, the time was utilized to the max: from big-ways to dynamic 5-way groups featuring flares and "hammerheads." The culmination was a 34-way wingsuit formation in a "V" shape out of two Twin Otters. It was incredible a formation organized in just an hour and executed at a world-class level. I had the great pleasure of flying as the videographer and photographer for this group, capturing that spectacular flight.

Evenings, true to tradition, ended at the Hard Dock with video analysis and debriefs. In Z-Hills, skydiving isn't just a sport, it's a lifestyle that tastes best during a Florida winter.

I went there to observe how the best and most organized do it. The goal is to bring those top-tier practices back to our home turf during the upcoming Baltic Wingsuit Meet. See you in the Polish skies!

The Raffle and Industry Support

The excitement continued on the ground with a major raffle supported by the industry's biggest names. Participants won high-value prizes and vouchers from:

  • Squirrel: Providing vouchers for top-tier equipment.

  • Skydive City: Contributing jump tickets to keep the pilots in the air.

  • Indoor Wingsuit: Sponsor time in Rats Jar Lab Stockholm and Slovenia, offered tunnel time to help pilots refine their skills.

  • And many others...

Final Thoughts

Reflecting on this experience, it’s clear that Flock Fest 2026 was more than just a series of jumps; it was a masterclass in how the highest levels of discipline and community can elevate a sport. Bringing those world-class standards, the precision of XRW and the efficiency of a 34-way formation back to Poland is exactly what the local scene needs to continue its growth.

The energy from Zephyrhills is the perfect fuel for the upcoming Baltic Wingsuit Meet. If we can replicate even a fraction of that "Z-Hills" synergy on our own turf, the Polish skydiving community is in for an incredible season.

So, the plan is already made. Next year, I’m heading back to be part of this amazing event.